An Open Letter to the Extremists in the Virginia GOP

With an across the board blow out in the 2013 Virginia statewide elections, one would think that the Virginia GOP might be rethinking its priorities and what issues matter if the party seeks to regain its appeal to the majority of Virginians.  But that would be a wrong assumption given the reality that the base of the Virginia GOP is now controlled by those who can be classified as (i) crazy, (ii) white supremacists, or (iii) religious fanatics who would happily bring back a modernized version of the Spanish Inquisition.  Conservative columnist Jennifer Rubin - hardly one of my favorite writers - has an open letter to the Virginia GOP in the Washington Post that holds few punches.  Rather than listen to such criticisms, I expect the Virginia GOP to double down on its batshitery.  Here are column highlights:

Hello Virginia Republican Party honchos, Bang up job there, coming up with the slate of three losing candidates in this November’s election. And it really is you — and the most ardent Republican operatives, activists and office holders – who did it. Only about 8,000 dyed-in-the-wool conservatives showed up on a weekend in May in Richmond, at least a two-hour drive for the people in the most populous part of the state (Northern Virginia). And, oddly, many Virginians on a Saturday in May were occupied with family, friends and so on. In short, people who have a life generally don’t show up at these things. So, it was a sliver of Virginians who picked the trifecta of losers.

This week, the beloved Rep. Frank Wolf — who, if it were up to those 8,000, probably never would have won 17 elections — announced that he would retire. Let me put it bluntly: If you plan on holding a convention to pick the nominee for this seat in a district populated by moderate Republicans and middle-of-the-road Democrats, you might want to consider closing up shop here in the Commonwealth. You’re just asking for it.

Interestingly, one of the aspirants for Wolf’s seat who’d probably thrill the 8,000 wound up in a wee bit of trouble this week. State Del. Dick Black apparently believes marital rape doesn’t exists.

[D]on’t give me that, “Are we going to let political correctness pick our nominee?” jazz; indifference to modern sensibilities is precisely why those 8,000 conventioneers have such a poor record in picking viable candidates.

One way to prevent a disaster like 2013 is to use a primary, not a closed club of party insiders, to pick the nominee. If you don’t believe me, sit down with former congressman and new Republican Artur Davis. He wrote in an e-mail: . . . .  “We need to stop acting as if we fear the voters who aren’t on our email chains.” Hmm. He’s got a point, no?

If instead you come up with a Saturday-in-Richmond nominee who spews fire and brimstone, I’ll be voting for the Democrat, who will be picked by a primary and, therefore, is unlikely to be obviously incapable of winning. Just saying.

 Blunt and to the point.  Will the Virginia GOP listen?  Not a chance.  The Family Foundation will demand that more lunatics and extremists be nominated, and it will once again get its way.